WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+1% vs national median1,804 grads tracked

Sociology at Northern Illinois University

Ranked 91st of 313 bachelor's programs in Sociology by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$36,362
middle 50%: $27,014 – $47,111
Median · 5 years out
$53,863
middle 50%: $41,273 – $71,244
Median · 10 years out
$68,131
middle 50%: $49,915 – $93,228

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Sociology (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Northern Illinois University's bachelor's program in Sociology earn a median $36,362 one year after graduating, rising to $68,131 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 1% above the national median of $53,227 for this field, ranking 91st of 313 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
7.8 yrs
≈ $9,276 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Arizona (The)
$54,354 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at San Antonio
$54,205 · 5 yrs out
Albertus Magnus College
$54,199 · 5 yrs out
Franklin College of Indiana
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
$53,926 · 5 yrs out
Oregon State University
$53,887 · 5 yrs out
Christopher Newport University
$53,806 · 5 yrs out
Dominican University
$53,705 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
$53,647 · 5 yrs out
Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$53,593 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$53,515 · 5 yrs out
Prairie View Agricultural & Mechanical University
$53,444 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Northern Illinois University

Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$109,443 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 5 yrs out

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